CITY COMMISSION MINUTES February 20, 2017 Mayor Joe LaCascia called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Walter Lawlor, New Life Community Church, gave the invocation. Those present recited the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Joe LaCascia. ROLL CALL - Assistant to the City Manager Sheandolen Dunn Present: Mayor Joe LaCascia, Vice Mayor Wanda Harris, Commissioner Mike Blethen, Commissioner Keith Prestage, Attorney Thomas Wilkes and City Manager Patricia Jackson Absent: City Attorney Thomas Cloud APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA Motion by Commissioner Prestage to approve the Consent Agenda; motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Harris. PRESENTATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS Resolution 2017-01 - Florida Association of City Clerks Commemorating its 45th Anniversary City Manager Jackson provided an overview of Resolution 2017-01. Motion by Vice Mayor Harris to approve Resolution 2017-01 ; this motion was seconded by Commissioner Prestage. Vote: Commissioner Blethen - aye; Vice Mayor Harris - aye; Commissioner Kimsey - aye; Mayor LaCascia - aye; Commissioner Prestage - aye PUBLIC COMMENT Sandra Cutts (315 Central Avenue) - inquired about the status of the tennis/basketball courts completion. City Manager Jackson responded the project will be completed by the end of March.
Susan Ketterman (583 Markhem Loop) -inquired about tenants for the new plaza next door to Hungry Howies. Mayor LaCascia responded that is a private enterprise and the City does not know the tenants scheeuled to occupy the strip mall. ORDER OF BUSINESS Republic Services - Solid Waste and Recycling Collection Franchise Agreement Mayor LaCascia stated the City entered into a Solid Waste and Recycling Collection Franchise Agreement with Republic Services effective January 1, 2014, for a period of three years. The current agreement expires January 1, 2018. The City has received a request from Republic Services to extend the agreement for one (1) additional term of three (3) years. There is not a request for an increase in fees, and the poly carts will remain the property of Republic Services. City Staff is recommending extending the current Solid Waste and Recycling Collection Franchise Agreement with Republic Services for one additional term of three years. Motion by Vice Mayor Harris to extend the current Solid Waste and Recycling Collection Franchise Agreement with Republic Services for one additional term of three years; this motion was seconded by Commissioner Prestage. No Discussion. Vote: Commissioner Blethen - aye; Vice Mayor Harris - aye; Mayor LaCascia - aye; Commissioner Prestage - aye; Commissioner Kimsey - aye Motion passed unanimously. PUBLIC HEARING - Option Contract for Sale and Purchase - Bryant Property located at 9835 North State Road 33, Polk City Mayor LaCascia provided history on the property and the City's plan for this property, if purchased. Mayor LaCascia opened the public hearing. Laura Lambert (452 Meandering Way), Russ Cederholm (648 Meandering Way) Mayor LaCascia closed the public hearing. Motion by Commissioner Prestage to approve the Option Contract for Sale and Purchase of the Bryant Property; this motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Harris. 2
The following persons spoke against Polk City purchasing the Bryant Property: Sandra Cutts - (315 Central Avenue), Milly Supplee (305 Motorcoach Drive S), Nancy Peterson (315 Central Avenue), Mike Vlaskos (618 Gordon Road), George Clampet (423 Nolane Lane), Ted Borsje' (210 Bayberry Drive), Rod Benedickson (153 Laynewade Road), James Dove (547 Narrow Pond), Darlene Cutts (204 Pine Avenue), Amanda Bennett (204 Pine Avenue, Doug Atwood (609 Sayge Drive), Arthur Pereira (7 41 Meandering Way), Lisa Shifflett (234 Bayberry Drive), Charles Erwin (190 Laynewade Road), Laura Lambert (452 Meandering Way), Russ Cederholm (648 Meandering Way) After lengthy discussion and hearing concerns from the public, it was the consensus of the Commission to table this item. Motion by Commissioner Prestage to table the Option Contract for Sale and Purchase of the Bryant Property; this motion was seconded by Commissioner Kimsey. Vote: Commissioner Blethen - aye; Vice Mayor Harris - aye; Mayor LaCascia - aye; Commissioner Kimsey - aye; Commissioner Prestage - aye PRWC Combined Project Implementation Agreement Mayor LaCascia provided a brief overview of the Polk Regional Water Cooperative. The City Commission will consider an Agreement for participation in Phase I of a Polk Regional Water Cooperative project. Commissioner Kimsey inquired as to whether other cities approved this Agreement. City Manager Jackson stated out of seventeen cities in Polk County, two have tabled and one has declined. City Manager Jackson further explained that this plan will be in place as an alternative water supply. All the cities in Polk County had to come up with an alternative water supply. In 2006, all the cities started meeting to come up with a different project to handle the alternative water supply. Polk City adopted by Resolution for water supply in 2006. The Legislature created the Central Florida Water Initiative, which covers five counties to look at regional issues that face these five counties as they all share the same bodies of water. Polk County has five rivers, but Polk City does not get any benefit because it goes to 38 other counties in Florida, so this is a regional problem. Polk County wanted to be certain it was not left out of this equation. Thus, the Cooperative was formed and can provide access to more funding from the Legislature than from SWFWMD. Seventeen municipalities are a part of the Cooperative. Our permit has been reduced since 2009. Polk City is at a deficit of 1.68%, which is.78 3
MGD (million gallons a day) in the deficit. If we go to SWFWMD to get water, the first question would be is Polk City a member of the Cooperative. If Polk City is not, we have to stand in line and get the water when SWFWMD deems fit. Polk City wants to have a seat at the table to protect its interest. We are trying to come up with Regional Projects that will benefit Polk City. SWFWMD gives the cooperative so much money and we will guarantee $40 million for this cooperative as we reach certain levels. Phase I will be to look at the three projects chosen, determining if they are feasible in order to move to Phase II. Under Phase II the City will determine which project, if any, that the City will participate in. We can either pay our portion up front of phase I or we do nothing and choose to participate in a project of Phase II, then we would be required to pay our proportionate share of the cost of Phase I. Either you pay for it now or you wait see what Phase I comes up with. Lengthy Discussion ensued. Motion by Commissioner Prestage to approve the PRWC Combined Project Implementation Agreement; this motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Harris. Vote: Vice Mayor Harris - aye; Mayor LaCascia - aye; Commissioner Kimsey - nay; Commissioner Prestage - aye; Commissioner Blethen - nay Motion carried 3/2. PRWC Conservation Project Implementation Agreement City Manager Jackson provided a brief explanation on the PRWC Conservation Project Implementation Agreement. Motion by Commissioner Prestage to approve the PRWC Conservation Project Implementation Agreement; this motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Harris. Vote: Commissioner Prestage - aye; Commissioner Blethen - aye; Mayor LaCascia - aye; Vice Mayor Harris - aye; Commissioner Kimsey - aye PRWC Conservation Project Agreement City Manager Jackson provided a brief explanation on the PRWC Conservation Project Agreement. Motion by Commissioner Prestage to approve the Conservation Project Agreement; this motion was seconded by Commissioner Harris. Vote: Mayor LaCascia - aye; Vice Mayor Harris - aye; Commissioner Blethen - aye; Commissioner Kimsey - aye; Commissioner Prestage - aye 4
CITY MANAGER ITEMS FRDAP - Amendment to the grant to purchase more materials such as signs, bike racks, etc. CDBG - Handicapped accessible front door is now operational. Architectural Drawings - for the library should be received by March. CITY ATTORNEY ITEMS Attorney Wilkes discussed the Windermere Railroad sale. COMMISSIONER ITEMS Vice Mayor Harris - Thanked everyone for coming. Commissioner Blethen - Expressed frustration with amount of paper received for City Commission packet. Commissioner Kimsey - The City is not trying to hide anything Commissioner Prestage -Very disheartened by the behavior expressed by so many citizens during tonight's meeting. Submitted letter of resignation to the City Commission. Thanked the City Commission for the opportunity to serve Polk City. Mayor LaCascia - On behalf of the City Commission, accepted Commissioner Prestage's resignation. ANNOUNCEMENTS - None ADJOURNMENT - 9:55 pm 5
CONSENT AGENDA February 20, 2017 MAY ALL BE APPROVED BY ONE VOTE OF COMMISSION TO ACCEPT CONSENT AGENDA. Commission Members may remove a specific item below for discussion, and add it to the regular agenda under New or Unfinished Business, whichever category best applies to the subject. A. CITY CLERK 1 Accept minutes - January 16, 2017 - City Commission Regular Meeting B. REPORTS 1. Building Report - January 2017 2. Code Enforcement Report - January 2017 3. Finance Report - January 2017 4. Library Report- January 2017 5. Sheriff's Office Report - January 2017 6. Utilities Report - January 2017 C. OTHER 6